Attache case



L.. Lil-'TON ATTACH CASE Feb. 12, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 3,1956 EW/5 LIF 70N INVENTOR ATToe/VEY L. LIFTON Feb. i2, i957 ATTACHE?CASE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 3, 1956 FIG. I6

FIG

L/ @zum lill Ill J INVENTOR. EW/5 L/F/V ATTORNEY -facturer for repair.

ATTAC@ CASE Lewis Litton, New York, N. Y.

Application July 3, 1956, Serial No. 595,639

Claims. (Cl. 217-69) The subject matter of this invention is concernedwith corner strengtheners particularly applicable, although notnecessarily, to an attach case of the type usually cornprising, areceptacle and a hinged lid together with controllable locking means tohold the lid closed, and an appropriate handle for conveniently carryingthe case about. Usually an attach case has a covering of leather, or ofimitation or simulated leather. Such coverings are glued to the framesof the lid and receptacle and to upper and lower closure walls thereof.The sides of the covering at the corners of the lid and receptaclehitherto also included lips or anges which were swung against the endsof the covering at these corners and subsequently stitched 'against suchends. It is a well known fact that during stitching the needle severingthe covering produces a line of holes weakening such covering. Thusoften in actual practice during handling and use of the attach case, theseams formed by the lines of stitching at times became disabled, causinga flange or lip to open up thereby pr ducing an unsightly appearance.When this occurred, lthe attach case was generally sent back to themanu- New seams had to be restitched by hand in that the needle had topass through the same holes previously made in the covering to avoidfurther weakening of the latter. Many times repair was impossible inthat the old line of holes were in part worn or torn. The object of theinvention resides in the provision of a novel attach case wherein nolips or iianges at the sides of the covering for the lid and receptacleframes are required thereby eliminating the need of undesirable seamsformed by lines of stitching. Another object comprehends the utilizationof dihedral corner strengtheners to conceal companion corner faces ofthe coverings. Another object is realized in utilizing dihedralstrengtheners to protect the corners of the attach case substantiallythroughout their entire heights, thereby not only providing -a strongerattach case construction but one which adequately wears better apartfrom having -a more desirable appearance. Another object is to provide adihedral or corner strengthener having means to preclude accidentalseparation or opening of overlapped portions of the coverings at thecorners of the lid and receptacle and concomitantly serving toetfectively conceal such overlapped portions. Another object residesin'the provision of compensatory means carried by dihedral strengthenerto allow for uncontrollable variations in heights of either thereceptacle or its swingable lid, nevertheless aording appropriateprotection against misuse and shock substantially along the entireheights of the lid and receptacle. Other important objects and featureswill appear from the following detailed desc-ription taken with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the attach case illustrating the lidpartly broken away and swung from the receptacle of the case and furtherillustrating protective metal shields according to my invention securedto the ted States FatentO Mice corners of the lid and receptacle forstrengthening such corners.

Fig. 1A is a sectional view on the line 1A1A of Fig. l.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of Fig. l on a smaller scale but with the hingedlid shown fully closed.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged View of the receptacle shown in Fig. lprior to securing adjacent ends of the exible covering to companionfaces of a corner of the wooden frame of the receptacle.

Fig. 4 is a view similar lto Fig. 3 but with the covering completelysecured to a corner of the frame except for one end thereof.

Fig. 5 is a view along the lines of Fig. 4 however illustrating the endsof the covering appropriately secured to corner faces.

Fig. 6 is a front view of Fig. 5 but with a dihedral protective shieldapplied to the covered corner and with its wing carrier or shank in itsunfolded position.

Fig. 7 is a view along the lines of Fig. 6 but showing the shank or wingcarrier folded down and with the wing secured to the covering.

Fig. 8 is a vertical Sectional view on the line 8 3 of Fig. l, howevershowing the hinged lid closed and cooperating with the covered rim ofthe receptacle.

Fig. 9 is a sectional View on the bent line 9 9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. l0 is an inside perspective view of one dihedral protective shieldshown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1l is an enlarged horizontal sectional view on the line 11-11 ofFig. 2.

Fig. l2 is an enlarged perspective view of a corner of the lid showingthe covering unwrapped from its wooden frame.

Fig. 13 is a View similar to Fig. l2 but showing one end of the coveringglued to one vertical face of the corner `and with the companion end ofthe covering exposing the adjacent vertical face of the corner.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view of Fig. 13 showing the both ends of thecovering secured to the vertical faces of the corner and with the upperparts of these ends in overlapping relation and secured to horizontalshoulders of the lid.

Fig. l5 is a view similar to Fig. 14 but with a protective shieldapplied to the covered corner and with the wing carrying shank unfoldedand unsecured to the corner.

Fig. 16 is a view along the lines of Fig. l5 illustrating the protectiveshield fastened to the sides of the covered corner and with the wingsecured against the overlapped parts of the ends of the covering andfastened thereagainst, and

Fig. 17 is a view of a modified dihedral protective shield.

The attach case is generally designated A and contprises a closed bottomreceptacle C having an open top adapted to be closed by the swingableiid L. Spaced hinges H (Fig. 2) are effectively secured to the backwalls of the receptacle and lid to permit the latter to be swungrelative to the receptacle. As shown, both the lid 'and receptacle arerectangular. Receptacle C comprises a wooden frame F While lid Lincludes the wooden frame FF. The ends and sides of frame F forming itscorners are effectively secured together by the conventional and gluedmortise and tenon joints 10 and 11 as shown in Fig. 3. Similar gluedytogether mortise land tenon joints 12 and 13 shown in Fig. l2appropriately connect and secure the sides and ends of frame FF to lid Lto constitute the corners of the latter.

Frame F has its upper part rabbeted to deiine rim R and alinedhorizontal shoulders i4. Bottom Wall 15 (Figs. 8 and ll) or receptacle Ceffectively closes the lower part of frame F. A leather covering 16 isglued against the outer surface of bottom wall 15 (Fig. 8), the outsidefaces 17 of frame F, to the shoulders 14, and

oficinas' 3 about thesouter faces of theupstanding'rimR and'against' theupper part of inside surface 18 of frame F. However, companion ends 20andlZl of covering 15 areY glued to the vertical faces constituting' thecornersL thereof. Ends Ztl and 21 of covering 16 at the corners haveupper portions 22 and 23Y glued' to shoulders' 14' and riirn R- and inoverlapping relation and also glued against; the inside surfaces i8 4ofthe frame at the' corners. Y Y Y A metal one piece dihedral shield VDlisV eecti'vely secured to each corner of receptacle C.y VEach protectiveshield comprises a dihedralV column 25k having merged webs 26characterizing approximately a right' angle adapted to convenientlyreceive a covered corner of frame F. Webs 26V are each provided withupper and lowerV ears 27 andrZSr, each of which is provided witha'nopening 29 (Fig. l). n integral' with' lower diverged rears 2 8 is thearcuate hase or bottom wallE 3:0' forming with these ears a socket forclosely receiving andembracing the lower part of a corner. Nails'areins'erted into openings 29 and are driven into the covered frame Ft`osecure webs 26 firmly in place. Y l

The height of a column 25 of each protective shield DP, that is, itsdistance from itsb'a'se Stlto the upper faces 32 of Vears 27 thereof issubstantially coextensive withv the height of the receptacle except fo-rits rim R, that is, a distance between coveredshoulders 14 of frame Fand the covered bottom wall VThus each corner shield D? protects theentire height of a corner and `further includes ineans to conceal aswell as preventV the overlapping portions 22 and 23 from accidentallyopening up or separating. In this connection, it willv 'oe' observedthat integral with ears 27 and common thereto and extending upwardlytherefrom at their juncture is a y shank or pilot 33 carrying the aredwing or angc 34.

Shank 33 in fact is a connection which is adapted'to beY bent or foldedagainst the covered shoulders 14, that is, against the overlappedportions 22 and 23 of covering 16 (Fig. 9). 'A nail 35 which passesthrough opening 36 in wing Se is driven through the overlapped and gluedportions 22 and 23 and into frame F, hence holding downA theseoverlapped ends against separation.

Shank or pilot 33 of course may be bent along anyv part of its lengthtoward the covered shoulders 14 of a frame corner to adjust foruncontrollable heightdiffererr Y tials cfa column or the height of acovered frame corner, that is,V uncontrollable variations in heightincidental to manufacturing tolerances between column-1.25V

and the covered corner of frame F it embraces, it may be compensated forin that shank or pilot 33 may always he folded at they elevation of thecovered shoulders 14 band 4l likewise of a simulated leather is alsosecured 'to the inside faces of frame F and against the'overlappedportions 22 and 23 of the covering secured to the inside faces l5. Y

Coming now to Figs. l2 to linclusive, one corner of wooden frame FF orlid L is shown. In these views the position of the lid is actually shownreversed from the normal position exhibited in Fig. 1. A covering isglued to the external surface of frame F?. This covering Si? may be ofasuitable leather or simulated leather having abutting ends 51 and 52glued tocompanion lfaces of corners of the lid frame FF Vwhile theupp'erportions 53 and 5d are glued in overlapping fashion against the alinedshoulders or faces 55 and 56 ywhich in fact con stitute theV bottomsurface of frame FF desirably closed byV wall S7 (Figs. l and 8)concealed bycovering Sil also secured thereto. Liner 58 (Figs. l and 8),preferably of simulated leather, is glued to the inside surface of coveror wall S7, to the inside'surface' of frame. FF

.andi againstY the'over'lapped portions V53 and 54.

Except for their heights, that is, their elevations, metal dihedralshields' or strengtheners VLBP arey structurally identical to theprotective dihedral or corner shields 'or strengtheners DP.Strengtheners LDP are anchored to the outside corners of lid L. Sincethe corner strengtheners for hoth lid L and receptacle C of case A aresubstantially structrally identical, for the sake of simplicitycorresponding portions of the strengtheners of both lid L and receptacleC are identified by like reference characters. Dihedral strengthene'rsLDP thus conceal the corners formed by ends Sl and 52 of covering 5i)and wing 34tholds overlapped portions 53 andv- SiI against accidentalopening. y Y v The dihedral strengtheners or shields for both the lidand receptacle include Shanks 33? adapted to be bent or folded atthe'elevation of the overlapped portions of their respective framecoverings to compensate for'variations in heights of such frame, thatis, in the event such heights are greater than the heights ofVrespective dihedral columns 25. In alliinstancersl however nails 31secure the' columns against the coveredy corners While'rnails 35 securethe wings 34 to thev overlapped portions of the covering of the lid rand of the receptacleC.

Y' normal to ears 27 of webs 26'. Shieldv or strengthener InFig. 17 thedihedral strengthener orsliield-DP isalong the lines of the shieldV orstrengthenerDP shown in Fig. 1G except pilotV or stem-'33 and itswingEMl` have been' eliminated. instead a top wall or roof 60' isprovided. rl`his top wall is integral with4 and is substantially DP'therefore has a fixed height or elevation 4and incapable of adjustmentasin Vthe caseV of the strengthener shownl in Fig. l0 by reason ofthefoldable pilot or shank 33.

, ln use, a dihedral strengthen-er or shield DP' has itsjtop'V wall 6hand base 30' embracing upper andslower coveredV expression height hasbeen usedV to designate the depth(Y of an enclosure, and may be usedinterchangeably with the' term elevation by receptacle C. Swingablehasps 71 and complementary Y latch means 72 serve to'removably lock lidL to receptacle C; Y

Various changes may be made in details of construction and arrangementyof parts 'without departing from theY scope of the invention orsacrificing any of the advantages thereof inherent therein.

Iclaim: Y i l. A dihedral strengthener adapted to be applied to tsubstantially the entire elevationV of companion faces of'a corner of anarticle carrying enclosure having'upper'and lower surfaces at the upperand lower limits ofsaid e evation; comprising, angularly arranged webs.substantially coextensive with the extent of said elevation forembracing said companion faces, a base integral with the lower parts ofsaidwebs and defining therewith a' socket for receiving the lower partof Vsaid corner and constituting ay seat for said lower surface, wingmeans to conceal and engage a portion of. said upper surface, a shankinterconnecting' said webs and-wing means, means anchoring Said webs tosaid faces, and means anchoring said wing means to said upper surface; Y

2. A metal one piece dihedral strengthener adapted to be applied tosubstantially the entire elevationof companion faces of a corner ofanarticle carrying enclosureV having upper and lower surfaces atth'eVupper andv lower limits of said elevation; comprising,angularlyrarranged Webs substantially coextensive with the" extent ofsaidV elevation for embracing said companion faces, a base in tegralwith the lower parts of said websV and defining therewith 'a socketfor're'ceiving the lower partfof said cornerY and constituting a seatfor said lower surface, wing means spaced from said webs to conceal andengage a portion of A swingable handle 7G is Vcarried said uppersurface, a bendable shank interposed between said webs and wing meansand integral therewith, means for xing said webs to said faces, andmeans for fixing said wing means to said upper surface.

3. A metal one piece dihedral strengthener adapted to be applied tosubstantially the entire elevation of cornpanion faces of a corner of anarticle carrying enclosure having upper and lower surfaces at the upperand lower limits `of said elevation; comprising, merged and angularlyarranged webs substantially coextensive with the extent of saidelevation for embracing said companion faces, a base integral with thelower parts of said webs and dening therewith a socket for receiving thelower part of said corner and constituting a seat for said lowersurface, a pilot extending from said webs at the confluence thereof, andWing means carried by said pilot.

4. The dihedral strengthener according to claim 3 characterized furtherin that said pilot is attenuated relative to said webs and wing meansand adapted to be folded at said upper surface to compensate foruncontrollable variations in elevation of said corner.

5. The dihedral strengthener according to claim 4 wherein the wing meansis at the upper part of and overhangs said pilot and flares outwardlytherefrom and is adapted to be secured to overlapped portions of acovering for said enclosure to conceal said overlapped portions and toprevent opening thereof.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,068,189 Waldschmitt July 22, 1913 1,441,393 Benish Ian. 9, 19231,573,112 Gerding et a1. Feb. 16, 1926

